Self-lighting match



June 6, 1933. R. A. WHITLOCK SELF LIGHTING MATCH Filed Oct. 20, 1931 m6 "10mm .WQWM

Patented June 6, 1933 PATENT OFFICE RICHARD A. WHI'I'LOCK, OI MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK SELF-LIGHTING MATCH Application filed October 50, 1831.

My present invention has reference to a match package, and has for its primar object, the provision of a holder in whic the matches are received with their stems partly pro'ected therethrough, together with means or spacing the matches and a friction surface on the inner surface adjacent the mouth of the holder designed, when the said mouth of holder is compressed to engage with the head of the matches as the same are individually withdrawn from the holder to ignite the said matches.

A further and important object of the invention is the provision of a matchholder or receptacle and safety matches designed to be received therein, the said matches having their stems, adjacent their heads, formed on a strip which is pocketed in the holder to permit the stems of the matches projecting through the holder and sustaining said matches in proper spaced relation, the match stems having weakened portions or lines at their juncture with the strip and the inner surface of what may be termed the mouth of the holder having a friction or match ignition surface which, when the sides of the holder at the said mouth are compressed and the matches individually withdrawn from the holder will cause the ignition of the matches.

A further object is the provision of a match holder that is constructed of a substantially T-shaped strip of cardboard or like material, bent and folded upon itself to provide a substantially rectangular receptacle that has one of its sides reinforced to render the same practically non-bendable and its other side or face being yieldable, and

likewise to provide the receptacle at the lower corners thereof with openings for the reception of the ends of a paste board strip on one of whose edges there are formed spaced matches whose stems project through the holder, the inner face of the holder at the open or mouth end thereof, being treated with a friction or igniting surface against which the heads of the matches contact to ignite the matches when the same are singly withdrawn from the holder and when the yieldable portion of the holder is forced by Serial No. 569,981.

the fingers of the operator against the nonyieldable portion thereof.

To the attainment of the foregoing-the invention consists in the improvement hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a match holder or receptacle in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view approximate- 1y on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a sectional View approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view to illustrate the manner in which the match is ignited when the same is withdrawn from the holder.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the holder is formed.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the cardboard or 79 paplizr strip with the matchesformed therew1t The holder or receptacle is of cardboard or like material and is substantially T-shaped in plan as disclosed by Figure 5 of the drawing. The central portion of the T-shaped strip is wider than the lateral portions 1 thereof. The lateral portions 1 are divided from the central member of the strip by score lines 2, and the said central member at a point a suitable distance below the lower edges of the lateral portions 1 is provided with spaced score lines 33, the said score lines dividing the central portion of the strip into an upper part 5, a lower part 6 and a bottom part 7 which is disposed between the said score lines 33. The part 5, as well as the lateral extensions 1 have their inner faces treated with a surface 8 which may be of friction or match igniting material.

The blank disclosed by Figure 5 is bent upon the score lines to form the same with a substantially rectangular body, the part 6 being bent against the outer faces of the lateral extensions which are adhesively or oth- 95 erwise secured thereto. The parts 5 and 6 provide the front and the back of the holder or receptacle and because of the distance between the lower edges and the lateral extensions 1 and the score lines 3 adjacent thereto 10 the lower corners of the receptacle are provided with alining substantially rectangular openings or slots 9. Also because of the connection of the back 6 with the lateral extensions 1 the upper portion of the said back is rendered practically non-yieldable, while the front 5 is yieldable and isreadily movable, under pressure, toward the back 6 and the folded portions 1.

Before the holder or receptacles is assembled, as above described, I arrange on the bottom 7 a strip 10 of cardboard or the like. The strip is of a length so that its ends will slightly project through the openings 9 when the match holder is assembled. The strip on its upper edge is formed with a plurality of equidistantly spaced extensions that afford stems 11 for matches. The heads 12 of the matches are disposed only slightly away from one edge of the strip 10, and the stems 11, in a line with the said edge of the strip, are weakened, as at 13.

When the matches are arranged in the holder the same will be held from either longitudinal or lateral movement through the medium of the strip 10 due to the fact that the strip has its ends projected through the slots 9 and is therefore held in the holder as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. The heads 12 of the matches are sustained out of contact with each other and with the inner surface of the holder. An outward pull upon one of the stems 11 will cause the same to be detached from the strip 10, and when the matches are thus withdrawn the thumb and forefinger of the user are brought to contact with the yieldable and non-yieldable sides of the holder, thus restricting the size of the mouth of the holder and causing the head -12 of the removed match to be engaged by the friction or igniting surface 8 and thus ignite the match.

The device holds the matches in proper spaced relation, prevents the accidental withdrawal of any of the matches from the holder, is in the nature of a safety device as the matches cannot be ignited while in the holder and provides the highly desirable feature of causing the ignition of the match as the same is withdrawn from the holder.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A match package comprising a holder formed from a substantially T-shaped strip of material folded to provide a front, a back, a bottom and an open top with the lateral portions of the T-shaped strip secured to the inner surface of the back to provide sides having their lower ends spaced from the bottom to form slots between the bottom and lateral portions, a strip of a length to project through the slots to hold the strip against said bottom, stems formed with the strip and rising therefrom, match heads on the stems, the latter being weakened between the 

